Multiple station flexible boring machine

ABSTRACT

A method and multiple station flexible boring machine for transferring and locating a pallet carrying a workpiece to be machined. The machine has at least two machining stations and a part loading and unloading station adjacent a transfer table carried by a base for carrying, generally locating and transferring a pallet and a workpiece to each station. The pallet has a curvic coupling locator ring with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagement with a locator ring on an independent base of each station to accurately radially, axially and circumferentially locate the pallet on the station base. At the load station, the locator ring on the pallet is received in complementary mating engagement with the locator ring on the load base accurately locating the pallet with respect to the base and a workpiece is loaded, accurately located with respect to the load base and clamped to the pallet. The transfer table generally locates and transfers the pallet from the load station onto the base of a first machining station accurately locating the workpiece for machining. After at least one machining operation is performed at that station, the table transfers the pallet and workpiece onto the base of the next machining station. Upon completing all machining operations, the pallet and workpiece are returned to the part load station where the finished workpiece is released and removed and thereafter another workpiece to be machined is loaded, accurately located and clamped to the pallet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multiple station flexible boring machine fortransferring and locating a pallet carrying a workpiece to be machinedand more particularly to a method and apparatus for transferring theworkpiece on the pallet and accurately locating the workpiece and palletat a machine tool where a machining operation is to be performed.

BACKGROUND

In the machining of parts to be used in manufacture, the criticaltolerance of machined surfaces must be consistently maintained toproduce products which are high in quality and reliability. To machineparts with the necessary precision, a part must be accurately locatedwith respect to a machine tool performing the machining operation. Wherehigh volume production of parts is required, an automated machiningcenter, such as a multiple station boring machine, is frequently used toquickly and efficiently perform several machining operations on a part.

In the past, machines having at least two machine tool stations and aworkpiece indexing table and having a single, common base have been usedto perform several machining operations on a part or workpiece carriedby a fixture. To provide consistent machining accuracy, each componentof the machine must accurately radially, axially and circumferentiallylocated with respect to every other component For example, each stationattached to the base of the machine must be accurately radially, axiallyand circumferentially located with respect to each other and thetransfer table. Additionally, each workpiece holding fixture must beaccurately radially, axially and circumferentially located in itsassociated station.

In the typical operation of a machine of this kind, a fixture, alreadyaccurately located with respect to the indexing table carrying it, firstreceives a workpiece which is accurately located in the fixture. Afterclamping the workpiece in the fixture, the table is accurately indexedto deliver the workpiece to a first machine tool station. After allmachining operations are performed at that station, the table accuratelyindexes the workpiece seriatim to each succeeding station in whichmachining operations are performed. Once all machining operations arecompleted on the workpiece, the table is indexed back to a station wherethe finished workpiece is removed from the fixture and another workpieceis transferred into the fixture to be machined.

A drawback of this prior art machine is that it is sensitive to anymislocation of any component involved in the machining process. Forexample, if the workpiece, fixture, indexing table or any machine toolis even slightly out of location, the workpiece may be machined out ofacceptable tolerances resulting in the costly scrapping of the piece.This design is also subject to cumulative error because it requires thatthe workpiece be accurately located in the fixture, the fixture beaccurately located on the table, and the table be accurately located andindexed with respect to each machine tool station, etc. Any single errorin locating any component with respect to any other component may resultin a potentially defect-producing machining error. More over, if two ormore errors in location exist, the errors may aggregate to increase theamount that the workpiece may be out of tolerance raising theprobability that the part will have to be scrapped.

The cumulative error problems commonly associated with this design alsolimit the machining accuracy, quality and reliability of the machine toproduce a properly machined workpiece. This design also lacksflexibility and may be of limited cost-effectiveness by sharing a commonbase because index table or machine tool station obsolescence or failuremay require the costly replacement of the entire machine.

The problems commonly encountered with this design require that eachcomponent of the machine be extremely accurately made and located as anylocation error will result in the costly scrapping of a defectivelymachined workpiece. Even worse, the incorporation of out-of-tolerancemachined parts into a finished product will result in a product ofinferior quality and reliability requiring warranty work to beperformed, increasing customer returns and lessening profits Such aninflexible design also increases operation and replacement costs whenany machine station or index table is rendered obsolete or unusablenecessitating replacement of the entire machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method, machine and pallet for locating and transferring a palletcarrying a workpiece thereon to be machined. The machine has a transfertable for generally receiving, locating and transporting a pallet on thetable, at least one pallet for receiving and clamping a workpiece, and apart loading and unloading station and at least two machine toolstations adjacent the table. Each station has a separate base forreceiving and accurately locating a workpiece-carrying pallet thereon.

The table has a base and a drive for transferring all pallets carried bythe table. Each pallet has a locator ring, such as a curvic coupling,with a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radiallyextending teeth for accurately radially, axially and circumferentiallylocating the pallet. The part loading station has a locator ring on itsbase for complementary mating engagement with the ring of each pallet toaccurately radially, axially and circumferentially locate the palletwith respect to the load base. After the workpiece is accurately locatedon the pallet with respect to its locator ring, the workpiece isreleasably clamped to the pallet to accurately locate it on the palletEach machine tool station has a locator ring on its base forcomplementary mating engagement with the ring of the pallet toaccurately radially, axially and circumferentially locate the pallet andhence its workpiece for machining A clamping mechanism releasablysecures the pallet to the base of the machining station while the twolocator rings are engaged for maintaining the accurate location of theworkpiece during machining.

In operation, a workpiece is placed upon a pallet at the load and unloadstation to accurately radially and axially locate the piece with respectto the pallet. Before clamping the workpiece to the pallet, a locator inthe load station engages with a locator on the workpiece to determinethat the workpiece is accurately circumferentially located on thepallet. Before the locator is retracted, the workpiece is releasablyclamped to the pallet to accurately locate it radially, axially andcircumferentially with respect to the pallet locator ring.

Upon the table transferring the pallet to the first machining station,its locator ring is matingly engaged with the ring of the tool base toaccurately radially, axially and circumferentially locate the workpiecethereon. Before machining, a clamp of the tool base secures the palletto the base while the locator rings are engaged to fix and maintain theaccurate location of the workpiece during machining. After performing atleast one machining operation on the workpiece in the first station, thepallet is released and transferred by the table seriatim to eachsucceeding machine tool station. Prior to machining the workpiece ateach succeeding station, the pallet is clamped with its ring engagedwith the ring of the station base to positively and accurately locatethe workpiece. After all machining operations have been performed, thepallet and workpiece are transferred to the load station where thefinished workpiece is released and removed from the pallet andthereafter another workpiece is loaded on the pallet.

Should a different machine tool be required or a replacement of thetransfer table be necessary, one or more individual components of themachine may be flexibly changed without affecting the other componentsand machining accuracy. All that is required is for the base of achanged machine tool to be generally located with respect to thetransfer table. If a different transfer mechanism is used, such as aswing arm transfer or another table, accurate location of a workpiece isguaranteed by only generally locating the transfer with respect to eachmachine tool station base.

This inherent flexibility lowers operating and equipment costs byenabling quick and easy machine tool and transfer mechanism changeoverwithout sacrificing required accuracy. Cumulative error is alsoprevented because accurate location of each individual component withrespect to each other component of the machine is unnecessary as thelocator rings incorporated into this invention are generally insensitiveto slight mislocation prior to engagement. Finally, a machine of thisinvention provides more precise location and increased machiningaccuracy of a workpiece increasing the quality and reliability of afinished part.

Objects, features and advantages of this invention are to provide amultiple station workpiece machining method and apparatus which greatlyincreases the accuracy of location of the workpiece with respect to thebase of each machine tool, increases machining accuracy and reduces outof tolerance machining errors while greatly improving quality andreliability of the machined workpiece, enables quick and easy changingof single machine tool stations without sacrificing machining accuracyor obsoleting or needing to modify the entire multiple station machine,eliminates cumulative error in locating a workpiece in each machiningstation, and is reliable, flexible, durable and of simple design andeconomical manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention willbe apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims andaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of a dial machine with multipleflexible boring machine tools embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the dial machine showing one of themachine tools, and a part loading and unloading station.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the dial machine shown in detail thepart loading and unloading station.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1,illustrating two machine tools adjacent the transfer table and twopallets each carrying a workpiece and disposed in one of the machinetools.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pallet with an outside diameter clamp,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a modified pallet with an inside diameterclamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in more detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a dialmachine 10 embodying this invention and having a part loading andunloading station 12, and first 14, second 16 and third 18 machine toolsspaced generally circumferentially about the periphery of a transfertable 20 which can carry four pallets 22 each with a workpiece 24, suchas a planetary gear carrier for a vehicle transmission. Each machinetool has a fixture 26 for receiving, accurately locating and releasablyclamping a loaded pallet 22. The load and unload station 12 has alocator probe 28 adjacent the pallet 22 for accurately circumferentiallyorienting and locating the workpiece 24 on the pallet 22.

In the load station 12 while each pallet 22 is accurately located, aworkpiece 24 is loaded onto the pallet 22 and accurately located andclamped thereon. Thereafter, the loaded pallet 22 is transferred by thetable 20 sequentially into the work station of each machine tool wherethe pallet 22 is accurately located and clamped in the fixture 26 whilemachining operations are performed on the workpiece. After machining iscompleted by the third machine tool 18, the table transfers the loadedpallet into station 12 where the machined workpiece 24 is unclamped andunloaded from the machine 10.

Each machine tool is shown as a chucking or boring machine althoughother machine tools can be utilized as needed. Each machine tool has aspindle 30 driven by a motor 32 and journalled for rotation in a housing34 mounted on a slide 36 carried by ways 38 for generally verticalreciprocation to advance and retract the spindle 30 which is shown inits fully advance position. The ways 38 are fixed to a support column 40carried by a table 42 received on guideways 44 secured to a base 46 forreciprocating the spindle 30 to advance it generally radially witrespect to the workpiece 24 and transfer table 20. The column 40 isadvanced and retracted by a servomotor 48 mounted on a bracket 50secured to the base 46. Each machine tool may be of conventionalconstruction and hence will not be described in further detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates the pallet 22 in more detail. To be located andreceived by each fixture 26, the pallet has a base 52 with a locatorring 54 attached thereunder. Each ring 54 is a generally circularring-shaped plate 56 with a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth 58 in one face of the plate 56 foraccurately locating the pallet 22 on the fixture 26. The ring 54 isaccurately located with respect to the pallet 22 by at least one dowel60 and is affixed to the base by cap screws 62.

For receiving a clamp 64 of each fixture 26, a plate 66 with a generallycylindrical collar having a frustoconical end 68 is attached to theunderside of the base 52 by cap screws 70. Telescopically nested withina bore 72 through the collar 68 is an elongate shaft 74 extending from asecond generally circular plate 76.

To load each pallet 22 while it is clamped to the fixture 26 in the loadand unload station 12, a workpiece clamp release pin 78 is extendedupwardly from the fixture 26 to displace the shaft 74 and plate 76flexing upwardly a spring member 80 affixed to a plurality of clamp jaws82 by cap screws 84, 86, rotating the jaws 82 outwardly. Upon openingthe workpiece clamp jaw 82 of the pallet 22, a workpiece 24 can beloaded into and radially located on the pallet 22 by inserting acylindrical portion 88 of the workpiece 24 downwardly into a chuck plate90 on the pallet 22. A stop surface 92 secured to the plate 90 by capscrews 94 provides axial location of the workpiece 24 with respect tothe locator ring 54 on the pallet 22. When received by the chuck plate90, the workpiece 24 is accurately radially and axially located on thepallet 22 with respect to its locator ring 54. After the workpiece 24 iscircumferentially located on the pallet 22, the pin 78 is retractedspringing the clamp jaws 82 inwardly against the cylindrical outerdiameter 88 of the workpiece 2 thereby releasably clamping the workpiece24 in the pallet 22.

During transfer by the table 20, a skin 96 in the outer periphery of thepallet base 52 encircles a flange 98 on the table 20 and releasablyfrictionally engages with an O-ring 100 in the outer periphery of theflange 98 to radially retain the pallet 22 on the transfer table 20. Tocircumferentially maintain the general location of the pallet 22 whilein transfer, a pair of circumferentially spaced apart locator pins 102extending from the flange 98 are slidably received in a pair ofcomplementary locator openings 104 in the underside of the pallet base52 adjacent the skirt 96, one of which is shown. Additionally, in FIG. 5a machine tool 106 is shown in machining engagement with the workpiece24.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified pallet 22' with a generally cylindricalmandrel 108 with a frustoconical end 110 attached to a pallet base 52'for receiving, and radially locating a workpiece 24' along an innerdiametral surface 112 of the workpiece 24'. A stop surface 114 of thelower mandrel 108 is provided for axially locating the workpiece 24'with respect to the locator ring 54 on the pallet 22'. The workpiece 24'is shown releasably clamped by a diametrically expandable collet 116 onthe mandrel 108. A cap 118 connected to a shaft 120 is downwardly biasedby a spring 122 communicating against a washer 124 attached to the shaft120 within the pallet base 52' to draw the collet 116 downwardly and camit outwardly over the frustoconical mandrel surface 110. This expandsthe collet diameter into firm frictional engagement with the innerdiametral surface 112 of the workpiece 24' to secure it in the pallet22'. To release a workpiece 24', the workpiece clamp release pin 78 isextended to urge the shaft 120 and cap 118 upwardly to decrease thediameter of the collet 116 to less than the diameter of the innersurface 112 of the workpiece 24'.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in the part loading and unloading station 12,the elongate locator probe 28 is carried by a bracket 126 attached to asupport 128 affixed to a base 130 of the station for circumferentiallyorienting and locating a workpiece 24 loaded on the pallet 22. Eachworkpiece 24 is loaded onto a pallet 22 already located and clamped onthe load station fixture 26 with a locator opening 132 of the workpiece24 generally facing the probe 28. To more accurately circumferentiallylocate the workpiece 24 on the pallet 22, a generally triangular blade134 (FIG. 1) at one .[.®nd.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of the probe 28 isextended until both sides of the blade 134 engage with both walls of thelocator opening 132 of the workpiece 24. A series of dogs 136 at theopposite end of the probe 28 trip a series of limit switches 138attached to the base 130 of the station 12 to indicate the position ofthe blade 134; for example, whether a workpiece is present and whetherthe workpiece has been properly located on the pallet. When it has beendetermined that the workpiece 24 is properly located, the workpiece 24is clamped to the pallet 22 and the pallet 22 transferred to the table20.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the transfer table 20 has a generallycircular table top 140 secured by supports 142 to a platform 144 rotatedby a drive 146, such as a two speed A.C. motor, carried by a base 148for receiving and transferring each workpiece-carrying pallet 22 to eachstation around the table 20. To receive and preserve the general radiallocation of each pallet 22 during transfer, the table 20 has fourgenerally cylindrical flanges 98 bounding four circumferentially spacedopenings 150 (FIG. 1) in the table top 140 adjacent the outer peripheryof the table 20. General circumferential location of the pallet 22during transfer is maintained by the pair of locator pins 102 in eachflange 98 engaging with the openings 104 in the underside of each pallet22.

A hydraulic lift (see FIGS. 2 and 4) lifts the table 20 from theposition shown in FIG. 3 to the height illustrated in phantom totelescopically nest each flange 98 within the skirt 96 of each pallet 22to transfer the pallet 22 from the fixture 26 to the table 20. Whenlifted, the motor 146 rotates the table 20 until a position sensingfeed-back mechanism (not shown), such as a limit switch, indicates thateach pallet 22 is generally positioned over the next station. Thefour-station dial machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 would require the table 20to rotate approximately 90° when transferring each pallet 22 to the nextstation. If, for example, the table 20 was required to transfer pallets22 to eight stations, an approximately 45° rotation of the table 20would be necessary. Upon arrival at the next station, the table 20 islowered to transfer the pallet 22 from the table 20 to the fixture 26 ofthe station.

A fixture 26 is attached to the base 46, of each machine tool stationand has a locator ring 152, (See FIGS. 5 and 6) such as a curviccoupling, thereon with a set of teeth 154 in one face of the ring 152for complementary mating engagement with the teeth 58 of the locatorring 54 of each pallet 22 to accurately radially, axially andcircumferentially locate each pallet 22 and hence its associatedworkpiece 24 with respect to the spindle 30 of each machine toolstation. Similarly, a locator ring 152 on the fixture 26 of the load andunload station 12 accurately locates each pallet 22 with respect to thelocator probe 28 of the station 12.

The teeth 154 of each fixture locator ring 152 and the teeth 58 of eachpallet ring 54 both have beveled sides and are accurately machined toaccurately and complementarily mate even when an engaging ring isinitially somewhat out of location with respect to its complement ring.For example, should a pallet 22 be transferred somewhat out of locationinto a fixture 26, the teeth 58 of the pallet locator ring 54 will camalong the beveled sides of the teeth 154 of the fixture ring 152 to moveand guide the pallet 22 into accurate location on the fixture 26.

When a pallet 22 is received upon a fixture 26, the fixture pallet clamp64 extends from the fixture 26 to grasp the collar 68 of the pallet 22and draw its locator ring 54 down into positive mating engagement withthe ring 152 of the fixture 26 to more accurately locate and secure thepallet 22 on the fixture 26 during machining or loading. As a result ofeach pair of locator rings 54, 152, accommodating some initialmislocation, the machine tool stations and/or a load and unload station12 may be replaced or added to the dial machine 10 by only generallylocating the new station with respect to the transfer table 20.

If more than one machining operation is to be performed on a workpiece24 at a machining station, the engaged pair of locator rings 54, 152,pallet 22 and workpiece 24 may be indexed as a unit by a servomotordrive 156 coupled to the locator ring 152 in the machining stationfixture 26. For example, the workpiece 24 may be indexed 90° or 60° toperform four or six machining operations in that station.

In operation, the transfer table 20 is lowered to deposit each pallet 22onto one of the fixtures 26. As the pallet 22 is received into thefixture 26 of the load and unload station 12, it is clamped to thefixture 26 to accurately radially, axially and circumferentially locatethe pallet 22. Upon clamping the pallet 22 to the fixture 26, theworkpiece release pin 78 of the fixture 26 is extended upwardlyreleasing the workpiece clamp 82 on the pallet 22. A workpiece 24 to bemachined is loaded onto the pallet 22 with its locator opening 132generally facing the blade 124 of the locator probe 28 of the loadstation 12. Upon loading, the vertex of the blade 134 is extendedforwardly until the workpiece 24 is accurately circumferentially locatedwith respect to the locator ring 54 on the pallet 22 and the locatorring 152 on the load fixture 26. While the blade 134 is still engagingthe workpiece 24, the workpiece release pin 78 is retracted into thefixture 26 clamping the workpiece 24 to the pallet 22 in an accuratelocation on the pallet 22.

To transfer the workpiece 24 to the first machining station 14, thetransfer table 20 is raised transferring the pallet 22 and clampedworkpiece 24 to the table 20. After the table 20 rotates the pallet 22over the station 14, the table 20 is lowered and the pallet 22 isdeposited on the fixture 26 in this station. Upon releasably clampingthe pallet 22 to the fixture 26 to secure and accurately locate theworkpiece 24 with respect to the machine tool spindle 30, at least onemachining operation is performed.

After machining is completed at the first station 14, the pallet 22 isunclamped, the table 20 is raised lifting the pallet 22, and the table20 is rotated to deliver the pallet 22 to the second machining station16. Upon clamping the pallet 22 to the fixture 26 of the station 16, thepallet 22 is secured and the workpiece 24 located for machining. Whenmachining of the workpiece 24 is completed at the station 16, the table20 transfers the workpiece 24 and pallet 22 to the third machiningstation 18.

When all machining operations have been performed on the workpiece 24,the table 20 returns the pallet 22 and machined workpiece 24 to the loadand unload station 12 where the pallet 22 is releasably clamped to thefixture 26. The finished workpiece 24 is unclamped and removed andthereafter another workpiece 24 to b machined is loaded onto the pallet22. Typically, a finished workpiece is unloaded and another workpieceloaded after each indexing of the table and different workpieces aremachined at substantially the same time in all three machining stations14, 16 and 18.

While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with thepreferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that there will beother embodiments which fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention and that the invention is susceptible to modification,variation and change without departing from the scope and fair meaningof the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiple station boring machine for locatingand transferring a pallet carrying a workpiece having at least onelocator thereon for performing a series of machining operations on theworkpiece, said machine comprising:a base; a table carried by said basefor receiving and transporting a pallet thereon; a drive operablyassociated with said table for indexing said table relative to the base;at least one pallet for receiving and clamping a workpiece, a locatorring on said pallet having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for accurately axially, radially, andcircumferentially locating said pallet; a part loading station adjacentsaid table having a base, a locator ring on said base having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator teeth of said locatorring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially andcircumferentially locating said pallet on said base and a workpiecelocator carried by said base of said part loading station for engagingwith the locator of a workpiece for circumferentially locating theworkpiece with respect to said locator ring on said pallet and saidlocator ring on said base in mating engagement therewith; and at leasttwo machine tool stations adjacent said table, each machine tool stationhaving a separate base, a locator ring carried by said base of saidmachine tool station and having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with said locator teeth of said locator ring on said palletfor accurately axially, radially, and circumferentially locating theworkpiece on said pallet with respect to said base of said machine tool,and a clamp carried by said base of said machine tool station forclamping said pallet to said base while said locator ring on said palletis in mating engagement with said locator ring on said base of saidmachine tool station for maintaining the accurate location of theworkpiece with respect to said base of said machine tool station duringthe machining of the workpiece by a machine tool in said machine toolstation, whereby said drive moves said table to transfer a palletseriatim from one station to another station.
 2. The multiple stationboring machine of claim i wherein said drive operably associated withsaid table rotates and vertically reciprocates said table for raisingsaid table to lift said pallet from said base of said station, rotatingsaid table to advance said pallet to another succeeding station andlowering said table to deposit said locator ring of said pallet intomating engagement with said locator ring on said base of said anotherstation.
 3. The multiple station boring machine of claim 1 wherein saidtable is generally circular and has a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced openings in said table for receiving at least one pallet and anupwardly projecting generally cylindrical flange on said table boundingeach of said openings for generally radially locating said palletreceived on said table with respect to said table.
 4. The multiplestation boring machine of claim 3 wherein said pallet also comprises askirt about the lower periphery of said pallet for releasably nestingwith said flange on said table for radially locating and constrainingsaid pallet when carried by said table.
 5. The multiple station boringmachine of claim 3 wherein said flange of said table has at least onelocator thereon and said pallet has at least one complementary locatorthereon for matingly engaging said at least one locator on said flangeon said table with said at least one locator of said pallet forgenerally circumferentially, radially, and axially locating theworkpiece on said pallet with respect to said table for maintaining thelocation of the workpiece during the indexing of said table.
 6. Themultiple station boring machine of claim 5 wherein said locator on saidflange comprises a first generally round spring-biased locator dowel anda circumferentially spaced second generally diamond-shaped spring-biasedrelief locator dowel extending therefrom and said locator of said palletcomprises corresponding openings complementary with said dowels forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator dowels when saidpallet is received by said table for generally circumferentially,radially, and axially locating said pallet with respect to said tableand for maintaining the location of said pallet during the indexing ofsaid table.
 7. The multiple station boring machine of claim 1 whereinsaid locator ring is integral with said pallet.
 8. The multiple stationboring machine of claim 1 wherein said pallet also comprises adiametrically adjustable collet for receiving, supporting and releasablyclamping a workpiece to said pallet.
 9. The multiple station boringmachine of claim 1 wherein said pallet also comprises a radiallyadjustable clamp for receiving, supporting and releasably clamping anouter surface of the workpiece for releasably securing the workpiece tosaid pallet.
 10. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said pallet alsocomprises a catch extending from the bottom of said pallet for receivingsaid clamp of said machine tool station.
 11. The pallet of claim 10wherein said catch comprises a generally cylindrical collar having aninverted generally frustoconical end for receiving said clamp of saidmachine tool station.
 12. The multiple station boring machine of claim 1wherein said pallet also comprises a diametrically adjustable collet onsaid pallet for receiving the workpiece thereon, for radially andaxially locating the workpiece with respect to said pallet and saidlocator ring on said pallet, and for releasably affixing the workpieceto said pallet, a catch on the bottom of said pallet for receiving saidclamp of said machine tool station, said locator ring attached to thebottom of said pallet, a skirt adjacent the periphery of the bottom ofsaid pallet for nesting with said flange of said table for generallyradially and axially locating and constraining said pallet on saidtable, and a locator on the bottom of said pallet for complementarymating engagement with said locator of said table for generally locatingsaid pallet with respect to said table.
 13. The multiple station boringmachine of claim 1 wherein said base of said machine tool station alsocomprises an indexable platform, a drive operably associated with saidplatform for rotatively incrementally indexing said pallet and theworkpiece on said pallet while said locator ring on said pallet ismatingly engaged with said locator ring on said indexable platform ofsaid base for performing more than one machining operation on theworkpiece while at that machine tool station.
 14. The multiple stationboring machine of claim 13 wherein said drive operably associated withsaid indexable platform of said base of said machine tool stationcomprises a servomotor for indexing said pallet and the workpiece onsaid pallet while said locator ring on said pallet is matingly engagedwith said locator ring carried by said indexable platform of said basefor performing more than one machining operation on the workpiece whileat that machine tool station.
 15. The multiple station boring machine ofclaim 13 wherein said drive operably associated with said indexableplatform of said base comprises a circumferentially incrementallyindexing servomotor for indexing said pallet and the workpiece on saidpallet while said locator ring on said pallet is matingly engaged withsaid locator ring on said indexable platform on said base for performingmore than one machining operation to the workpiece while at that machinetool station.
 16. The multiple station boring machine of claim 1 whereinsaid part loading station also comprises a clamp carried by said base ofsaid part loading station for clamping said pallet to said base duringloading of the workpiece onto said pallet.
 17. The multiple stationboring machine of claim 1 wherein said workpiece locator of said partloading station also comprises an elongate reciprocable arm carried bysaid base of said part loading station and a generally triangularlocator blade at one end of said arm for extending said blade of saidarm engaging the locator of the workpiece for accuratelycircumferentially locating the workpiece with respect to said locatorring on said pallet and said locator ring on said base of said partloading station in mating engagement therewith.
 18. A method oftransferring and locating a pallet carrying a workpiece having at leastone locator thereon for performing a series of machining operations tothe workpiece comprising: providing a table with a base and a driveoperably connected with the table for indexing the table relative to thebase, at least one pallet for receiving and releasably affixing aworkpiece to the pallet and a locator ring having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the pallet,a part loading station adjacent the table having a base and a locatorring thereon having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagementwith the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet for accurately locatingthe pallet on the base of the loading station, and at least two machinetool stations adjacent the table, each machine tool station having aseparate base and a locator ring thereon for complementary matingengagement with the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the palletwith respect to the machine tool station base, and a clamp forreleasably clamping the pallet to the base of the machine tool stationwhile the locator ring of the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring of the base of the machine tool station and a machine toolfor performing machining operations on the workpiece, loading theworkpiece on the pallet at the part loading station to accuratelyradially, axially, and circumferentially orient the part with respect tothe pallet including engaging the locator of the workpiece to accuratelycircumferentially orient and locate the workpiece with respect to thepallet clamping the workpiece to the pallet, indexing the pallet to afirst machine tool station, locating the pallet on the base of themachine tool station by matingly engaging the teeth o the locator ringon the pallet with the teeth of the locator ring on the base of themachine tool station, clamping the pallet to the base while the locatorring on the pallet is in mating engagement with the locator ring on thebase of the machine tool station, performing at least one machiningoperation on the workpiece on the pallet, releasing the pallet, andindexing the pallet to a second machine tool station, locating thepallet on the base of the second machine tool station by matinglyengaging the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet with the teeth ofthe locator ring on the base of the second machine tool station,clamping the pallet to the base while the locator ring on the pallet isin mating engagement with the locator ring on the base of the secondmachine tool station, performing at least one machining operation on theworkpiece on the pallet, releasing the pallet, and after all machiningoperations have been performed, indexing the pallet and workpiece to theload station removing the workpiece from the pallet and thereafterloading another workpiece onto the pallet.
 19. The method of claim 18which also comprises: providing a workpiece locator carried by the baseof the part loading station, engaging the workpiece locator of the partloading station with the locator of a workpiece loaded onto a pallet atthe part loading station circumferentially locating the workpiece withrespect to the locator ring on the pallet and the locator ring on thebase of the part loading station, and disengaging the workpiece locatorfrom the workpiece.
 20. The method of claim 18 which also comprises:providing a generally circular table with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings in said table for receiving at leastone pallet, an upwardly projecting generally cylindrical flange boundingeach opening for generally radially and axially locating a palletreceived by an opening in the table, and a skirt about the lowerperiphery of the pallet for releasably nesting with the flange on thetable for radially locating and constraining the pallet when carried byan opening in the table, raising the table to pick up a pallet at astation by nesting the flange on the table within the skirt of thepallet to generally radially and axially locate the pallet on the tablefor indexing, indexing the table to another station, and lowering thetable to deposit the pallet onto the base of the station with thelocator ring on the pallet in mating engagement with the locator ring onthe base of the station.
 21. The method of claim 20 which alsocomprises: providing at least one locator dowel extending from eachflange, at least one complementary locator opening in the pallet forreceiving a locator dowel of the table, raising the table to pick up apallet at a station by nesting the flange on the table within the skirtof the pallet with each locator dowel extending from the flange on thetable complementarily engaging with each locator opening in the palletgenerally radially, axially, and circumferentially locating the palleton the table, indexing the table to another station, and lowering thetable disengaging each locator dowel in the flange from each locatoropening of the pallet depositing the pallet onto the base of the stationwith the locator ring on the pallet in mating engagement with thelocator ring on the base of the station.
 22. The method of claim 18which also comprises: for at least one machine tool station providing anindexable platform carrying its locator ring, and a drive operablyassociated with the platform for rotatively incrementally indexing thepallet and the workpiece on the pallet, receiving the pallet in suchmachine tool station with the locator ring on the pallet in matingengagement with the locator ring on the platform, clamping the pallet tothe platform by the clamp carried by the base of the machine toolstation, performing at least one machining operation on the workpiece onthe pallet by a machine tool in the machine tool station, indexing theplatform, pallet and workpiece in unison, performing at least onemachining operation on the indexed workpiece by a machine tool in suchmachine tool station, releasing the clamp from the pallet andtransferring the pallet and workpiece out of such machine tool station.23. The method of claim 18 which also comprises: indexing the tablecarrying the pallet to the part loading station, lowering the table totransfer the pallet from the table onto the base of the part loadingstation with the locator teeth of the locator ring on the pallet inmating engagement with the locator teeth of the locator ring on the baseof the part loading station to accurately locate the pallet with respectto the base of the part loading station, loading a workpiece onto thepallet, accurately axially and radially locating the workpiece on thepallet with respect to the locator ring on the pallet and the locatorring on the base of the part loading station in mating engagementtherewith, engaging said workpiece locator of the part loading stationwith the locator on the workpiece for accurately circumferentiallylocating the workpiece on the pallet with respect to the locator ring onthe pallet and the locator ring on the base of the part loading stationin mating engagement therewith, releasably clamping the workpiece to thepallet for maintaining the accurate location of the workpiece on thepallet during indexing of the pallet and machining of the workpiece, andraising the table to lift the pallet from the base of the part loadingstation onto the table for indexing the pallet to the next station. 24.The method of claim 23 which also comprises: providing a workpiecelocator of the part loading station having an elongate reciprocable armcarried by the base of the part loading station and a generallytriangular locator blade at one end of the arm, extending the blade ofthe arm to engage the locator of the workpiece for accuratelycircumferentially locating the workpiece with respect to the locatorring on the pallet and the locator ring on the base of the part loadingstation in mating engagement therewith, clamping the workpiece to thepallet, and retracting the blade of the arm from the workpiece.
 25. Themethod of claim 23 which also comprises: providing a catch on theunderside of the pallet for engagement by a clamp, and a clamp operablyassociated with the base of the part loading station for clamping thepallet, clamping the pallet to the base of the part loading station withthe locator ring of the pallet in mating engagement with the locatorring on the base of the part loading station, loading the workpiece ontothe pallet, accurately locating the workpiece on the pallet with respectto the locator ring on the pallet and the locator ring on the base ofthe part loading station in mating engagement therewith, clamping theworkpiece to the pallet, releasing the pallet from the clamp operablyassociated with the base of the part loading station and transferringthe pallet from the base of the part loading station onto the table forindexing the pallet and workpiece to the next station. .Iadd.
 26. Amultiple station boring machine for locating and transferring a palletcarrying a workpiece for performing a series of machining operations onthe workpiece, said machine comprising:a base; a table carried by saidbase for receiving and transporting a pallet thereon; a drive operablyassociated with said table for indexing said table relative to the base;at least one pallet for receiving and clamping a workpiece, a locatorring on said pallet having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for accurately axially, radially, andcircumferentially locating said pallet; a part loading station adjacentsaid table having a base, a locator ring on said base having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator teeth of said locatorring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially andcircumferentially locating said pallet on said base; and at least twomachine tool stations adjacent said table, each machine tool stationhaving a separate base, the separate base of each machine tool stationbeing independent of the bases of all other machine tool stations, alocator ring carried by said separate base of said machine tool stationand having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generallyradially extending teeth for complementary mating engagement with saidlocator teeth of said locator ring on said pallet for accuratelyaxially, radially, and circumferentially locating the workpiece on saidpallet with respect to said separate base of said machine tool stationand a separate clamp carried by said separate base of said machine toolstation for clamping said pallet to said separate base while saidlocator ring on said pallet is in mating engagement with said locatorring on said separate base of said machine tool station for maintainingthe accurate location of the workpiece with respect to said separatebase of said machine tool station during the machining of the workpieceby a machine tool in said machine tool station independently of allother pallets, whereby said drive moves said table to transfer a palletseriatim from one station to another station. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 27. Themultiple station boring machine of claim 26 wherein said drive operablyassociated with said table rotates and vertically reciprocates saidtable for raising said table to lift said pallet from said base of saidstation, rotating said table to advance said pallet to anothersucceeding station and lowering said table to deposit said locator ringof said pallet into mating engagement with said locator ring on saidbase of said another station. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 28. A multiple stationboring machine for locating and transferring a pallet carrying aworkpiece for performing a series of machining operations on theworkpiece, said machine comprising:a base; a table carried by said basefor receiving and transporting a pallet thereon; a drive operablyassociated with said table for indexing said table relative to the base;at least one pallet for receiving and clamping a workpiece, a locatorring on said pallet having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for accurately axially, radially, andcircumferentially locating said pallet; a part loading station adjacentsaid table having a base, a locator ring on said base having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator teeth of said locatorring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially andcircumferentially locating said pallet on said base; at least twomachine tool stations adjacent said table, each machine tool stationhaving a separate base, a locator ring carried by said base of each saidmachine tool station and having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with said locator teeth of said locator ring on said palletfor accurately axially, radially, and circumferentially locating theworkpiece on said pallet with respect to said base of said machine tool,and a clamp carried by said base of each said machine tool station forclamping said pallet to said base while said locator ring on said palletis in mating engagement with said locator ring on said base of saidmachine tool station for maintaining the accurate location of theworkpiece with respect to said base of said machine tool station duringthe machining of the workpiece by a machine tool in said machine toolstation independently of all other pallets, whereby said drive movessaid table to transfer a pallet seriatim from one station to anotherstation, and said table is generally circular and has a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced opening in said table for receiving at leastone pallet and an upwardly projecting generally cylindrical flange onsaid table bounding each of said openings for generally radiallylocating said pallet received on said table with respect to said table..Iaddend..Iadd.
 29. The multiple station boring machine of claim 28wherein said pallet also comprises a skirt about the lower periphery ofsaid pallet for releasably nesting with said flange on said table forradially locating and constraining said pallet when carried by saidtable. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. The multiple station boring machine of claim28 wherein said flange of said table has at least one locator thereonand said pallet has at least one complementary locator thereon formatingly engaging said at least one locator on said flange on said tablewith said at least one locator of said pallet for generallycircumferentially, radially, and axially locating the workpiece on saidpallet with respect to said table for maintaining the location of theworkpiece during the indexing of said table. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. Themultiple station boring machine of claim 30 wherein said locator on saidflange comprises a first generally round spring-biased locator dowel anda circumferentially spaced second generally diamond-shaped spring-biasedrelief locator dowel extending therefrom and said locator of said palletcomprises corresponding openings complementary with said dowels forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator dowels when saidpallet is received by said table for generally circumferentially,radially, and axially locating said pallet with respect to said tableand for maintaining the locating of said pallet during the indexing ofsaid table. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The multiple station boring machine ofclaim 26 wherein said locator ring is integral with said pallet..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The multiple station boring machine of claim 26wherein said pallet also comprises a diametrically adjustable collet forreceiving, supporting and releasably clamping a workpiece to saidpallet. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. The multiple station boring machine of claim26 wherein said pallet also comprises a radially adjustable clamp forreceiving, supporting and releasably clamping an outer surface of theworkpiece for releasably securing the workpiece to said pallet..Iaddend..Iadd.35. A multiple station boring machine for locating andtransferring a pallet carrying a workpiece for performing a seies ofmachining operations on the workpiece, said machine comprising:a base; atable carried by said base for receiving and transporting a palletthereon; a drive operably associated with said table for indexing saidtable relative to the base; at least one pallet for receiving andclamping a workpiece, a locator ring on said pallet having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth foraccurately axially, radially, and circumferentially locating saidpallet; a part loading station adjacent said table having a base, alocator ring on said base having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with said locator teeth of said locator ring on said palletfor accurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating saidpallet on said base; at least two machine tool stations adjacent saidtable, each machine tool station having a separate base, a locator ringcarried by said base of each said machine tool station and having aplurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radially extendingteeth for complementary mating engagement with said locator teeth ofsaid locator ring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially, andcircumferentially locating the workpiece on said pallet with respect tosaid base of said machine tool, and a clamp carried by said base of eachsaid machine tool station for clamping said pallet to said base whilesaid locator ring on said pallet is in mating engagement with saidlocator ring on said base of said machine tool station for maintainingthe accurate location of the workpiece with respect to said base of saidmachine tool station during the machining of the workpiece by a machinetool in said machine tool station independently of all other pallets,whereby said drive moves said table to transfer a pallet seriatim fromone station to another station, and said pallet also comprises a catchextending from the bottom of said pallet for receiving said clamp ofsaid machine tool station. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The pallet of claim 35wherein said catch comprises a generally cylindrical collar having aninverted generally frustoconical end for receiving said clamp of saidmachine tool station. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A multiple station boringmachine for locating and transferring a pallet carrying a workpiece forperforming a series of machining operations on the workpiece, saidmachine comprising:a base; a table carried by said base for receivingand transporting a pallet thereon; a drive operably associated with saidtable for indexing said table relative to the base; at least one palletfor receiving and clamping a workpiece, a locator ring on said pallethaving a plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radiallyextending teeth for accurately axially, radially, and circumferentiallylocating said pallet; a part loading station adjacent said table havinga base, a locator ring on said base having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator teeth of said locatorring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially andcircumferentially locating said pallet on said base; at least twomachine tool stations adjacent said table, each machine tool stationhaving a separate base, a locator ring carried by said base of each saidmachine tool station and having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with said locator teeth of said locator ring on said palletfor accurately axially, radially, and circumferentially locating theworkpiece on said pallet with respect to said base of said machine tool,and a clamp carried by said base of each said machine tool station forclamping said pallet to said base while said locator ring on said palletis in mating engagement with said locator ring on said base of saidmachine tool station for maintaining the accurate location of theworkpiece with respect to said base of said machine tool station duringthe machining of the workpiece by a machine tool in said machine toolstation independently of all other pallets, whereby said drive movessaid table to transfer a pallet seriatim from one station to anotherstation, and said pallet also comprises a diametrically adjustablecollet on said pallet for receiving the workpiece thereon, for radiallyand axially locating the workpiece with respect to said pallet and saidlocator ring on said pallet, and for releasably affixing the workpieceto said pallet, a catch on the bottom of said pallet for receiving saidclamp of said machine tool station, said locator ring attached to thebottom of said pallet, a skirt adjacent the periphery of the bottom ofsaid pallet for nesting with said flange of said table for generallyradially and axially locating and constraining said pallet on saidtable, and a locator on the bottom of said pallet for complementarymating engagement with said locator of said table for generally locatingsaid pallet with respect to said table. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 8. The multiplestation boring machine of claim 26 wherein said base of said machinetool station also comprises an indexable platform, a drive operablyassociated with said platform for rotatively incrementally indexing saidpallet and the workpiece on said pallet while said locator ring on saidpallet is matingly engaged with said locator ring on said indexableplatform of said base for performing more than one machining operationon the workpiece while at that machine tool station. .Iaddend..Iadd.39.The multiple station boring machine of claim 38 wherein said driveoperably associated with said indexable platform of said base of saidmachine tool station comprises a servomotor for indexing said pallet andthe workpiece on said pallet while said locator ring on said pallet ismatingly engaged with said locator ring carried by said indexableplatform of said base for performing more than one machining operationon the workpiece while at that machine tool station. .Iaddend..Iadd.40.The multiple station boring machine of claim 38 wherein said driveoperably associated with said indexable platform of said base comprisesa circumferentially incrementally indexing servomotor for indexing saidpallet and the workpiece on said pallet while said locator ring on saidpallet is matingly engaged with said locator ring on said indexableplatform on said base for performing more than one machining operationto the workpiece while at that machine tool station. .Iaddend..Iadd.41.A multiple station boring machine for locating and transferring a palletcarrying a workpiece for performing a series of machining operations onthe workpiece, said machine comprising:a base; a table carried by saidbase for receiving and transporting a pallet thereon; a drive operablyassociated with said table for indexing said table relative to the base;at least one pallet for receiving and clamping a workpiece, a locatorring on said pallet having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for accurately axially, radially, andcircumferentially locating said pallet; a part loading station adjacentsaid table having a base, a locator ring on said base having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth forcomplementary mating engagement with said locator teeth of said locatorring on said pallet for accurately axially, radially andcircumferentially locating said pallet on said base; at least twomachine tool stations adjacent said table, each machine tool stationhaving a separate base, a locator ring carried by said base of each saidmachine tool station and having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with said locator teeth of said locator ring on said palletfor accurately axially, radially, and circumferentially locating theworkpiece on said pallet with respect to said base of said machine tool,and a clamp carried by said base of each said machine tool station forclamping said pallet to said base while said locator ring on said palletis in mating engagement with said locator ring on said base of saidmachine tool station for maintaining the accurate location of theworkpiece with respect to said base of said machine tool station duringthe machining of the workpiece by a machine tool in said machine toolstation independently of all other pallets, whereby said drive movessaid table to transfer a pallet seriatim from one station to anotherstation, and said part loading station also comprises a clamp carried bysaid base of said part loading station for clamping said pallet to saidbase during loading of the workpiece onto said pallet..Iaddend..Iadd.42. A method of transferring and locating a palletcarrying a workpiece for performing a series of machining operations tothe workpiece comprising: providing a table with a base and a driveoperably connected with the table for indexing the table relative to thebase, at least one pallet for receiving and releasably affixing aworkpiece to the pallet and a locator ring having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the pallet,a part loading station adjacent the table having a base and a locatorring thereon having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagementwith the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet for accurately locatingthe pallet on the base of the loading station, and at least two machinetool stations adjacent the table, each machine tool station having aseparate base and a locator ring thereon for complementary matingengagement with the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the palletwith respect to the machine tool station separate base, the separatebase of each machine tool station being independent of the bases of allother machine tool stations, and a separate clamp for releasablyclamping the pallet to the separate base of the machine tool stationwhile the locator ring of the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring of the separate base of the machine tool station, and amachine tool for performing machining operations on the workpiece,loading the workpiece on the pallet at the part loading station,clamping the workpiece to the pallet, indexing the pallet to a firstmachine tool station, locating the pallet on the base of the machinetool station by matingly engaging the teeth of the locator ring on thepallet with the teeth of the locator ring on the separate base of themachine tool station, clamping the pallet to the separate base while thelocator ring on the pallet is in mating engagement with the locator ringon the separate base of the machine tool station independently of allother pallets, performing at least one machining operation on theworkpiece on the pallet, releasing the pallet, and indexing the palletto a second machine tool station, locating the pallet on the separatebase of the second machine tool station by matingly engaging the teethof the locator ring on the pallet with the teeth of the locator ring onthe separate base of the second machine tool station, clamping thepallet to the separate base while the locator ring on the pallet is inmating engagement with the locator ring on the separate base of thesecond machine tool station independently of all other pallets,performing at least one machining operation on the workpiece on thepallet, releasing the pallet, and after all machining operations havingbeen performed, indexing the pallet and workpiece to the load station,removing the workpiece from the pallet and thereafter loading anotherworkpiece onto the pallet. .Iaddend..Iadd.43. A method of transferringand locating a pallet carrying a workpiece for performing a series ofmachining operations to the workpiece comprising: providing a table witha base and a drive operably connected with the table for indexing thetable relative to the base, at least one pallet for receiving andreleasably affixing a workpiece to the pallet and a locator ring havinga plurality of circumferentially spaced and generally radially extendingteeth for accurately axially, radially and circumferentially locatingthe pallet, a part loading station adjacent the table having a base anda locator ring thereon having a plurality of circumferentially spacedand generally radially extending teeth for complementary matingengagement with the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet foraccurately locating the pallet on the base of the loading station, andat least two machine tool stations adjacent the table, each machine toolstation having a separate base and a locator ring thereon forcomplementary mating engagement with the teeth of the locator ring onthe pallet for accurately axially, radially and circumferentiallylocating the pallet with respect to the machine tool station base, and aclamp for releasably clamping the pallet to the base of each machinetool station while the locator ring of the pallet is in matingengagement with the locator ring of the base of the machine toolstation, and a machine tool for performing machining operations on theworkpiece, loading the workpiece on the pallet at the part loadingstation, clamping the workpiece to the pallet, indexing the pallet to afirst machine tool station, locating the pallet on the base of themachine tool station by matingly engaging the teeth of the locator ringon the pallet with the teeth of the locator ring on the base of themachine tool station, clamping the pallet to the base while the locatorring on the pallet is in mating engagement with the locator ring on thebase of the machine tool station independently of all other pallets,performing at least one machining operation on the workpiece on thepallet, releasing the pallet, and indexing the pallet to a secondmachine tool station, locating the pallet on the separate base of thesecond machine tool station by matingly engaging the teeth of thelocator ring on the pallet with the teeth of the locator ring on thebase of the second machine tool station, clamping the pallet to the basewhile the locator ring on the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring on the base of the second machine tool stationindependently of all other pallets, performing at least one machiningoperation on the workpiece on the pallet, releasing the pallet, andafter all machining operations having been performed, indexing thepallet and workpiece to the load station, removing the workpiece fromthe pallet and thereafter loading another workpiece onto the pallet. andproviding a workpiece locator carried by the base of the part loadingstation, engaging the workpiece locator of the part loading station witha loader of a workpiece loaded onto a pallet at the part loadingstation, circumferentially locating the workpiece with respect to thelocator ring on the pallet and the locator ring on the base of the partloading station, and disengaging the workpiece locator from theworkpiece. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. A method of transferring and locating apallet carrying a workpiece for performing a series of machiningoperations to the workpiece comprising: providing a table with a baseand a drive operably connected with the table for indexing the tablerelative to the base, at least one pallet for receiving and releasablyaffixing a workpiece to the pallet and a locator ring having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the pallet,a part loading station adjacent the table having a base and a locatorring thereon having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagementwith the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet for accurately locatingthe pallet on the base of the loading station, and at least two machinetool stations adjacent the table, each machine tool station having aseparate base and a locator ring thereon for complementary matingengagement with the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the palletwith respect to the machine tool station base, and a clamp forreleasably clamping the pallet to the base of the machine tool stationwhile the locator ring of the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring of the base of the machine tool station, and a machine toolfor performing machining operations on the workpiece, loading theworkpiece on the pallet at the part loading station, clamping theworkpiece to the pallet, indexing the pallet to a first machine toolstation, locating the pallet on the base of the machine tool station bymatingly engaging the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet with theteeth of the locator ring on the base of the machine tool station,clamping the pallet to the base while the locator ring on the pallet isin mating engagement with the locator ring on the base of the machinetool station independently of all other pallets, performing at least onemachining operation on the workpiece on the pallet, releasing thepallet, and indexing the pallet to a second machine tool station,locating the pallet on the base of the second machine tool station bymatingly engaging the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet with theteeth of the locator ring on the base of the second machine toolstation, clamping the pallet to the base while the locator ring on thepallet is in mating engagement with the locator ring on the base of thesecond machine tool station independently of all other pallets,performing at least one machining operation on the workpiece on thepallet, releasing the pallet, and after all machining operations havingbeen performed, indexing the pallet and workpiece to the load station,removing the workpiece from the pallet and thereafter loading anotherworkpiece onto the pallet, and providing a generally circular table witha plurality of circumferentially spaced openings in said table forreceiving at least one pallet, an upward projecting generallycylindrical flange bounding each opening for generally radially andaxially locating a pallet received by an opening in the table, and askirt about the lower periphery of the pallet for releasably nestingwith the flange on the table for radially locating and constraining thepallet when carried by an opening in the table, raising the table topick up a pallet at a station by nesting the flange on the table withinthe skirt of the pallet to generally radially and axially locate thepallet on the table for indexing, indexing the table to another station,and lowering the table to deposit the pallet onto the base of thestation with the locator ring on the pallet in mating engagement withthe locator ring on the base of the station. .Iaddend..Iadd.45. Themethod of claim 44 which also comprises: providing at least one locatordowel extending from each flange, at least one complementary locatoropening in the pallet for receiving a locator dowel of the table,raising the table to pick up a pallet at a station by nesting the flangeon the table within the skirt of the pallet with each locator dowelextending from the flange on the table complementarily engaging witheach locator opening in the pallet generally radially, axially, andcircumferentially locating the pallet on the table, indexing the tableto another station, and lowering the table disengaging each locatordowel in the flange from each locator opening of the pallet depositingthe pallet onto the base of the station with the locator ring on thepallet in mating engagement with the locator ring on the base of thestation. .Iaddend..Iadd.46. The method of claim 42 which also comprises:for at least one machine tool station providing an indexable platformcarrying its locator ring, and a drive operably associated with theplatform for rotatively incrementally indexing the pallet and theworkpiece on the pallet, receiving the pallet in such machine toolstation with the locator ring on the pallet in mating engagement withthe locator ring on the platform, clamping the pallet to the platform bythe clamp carried by the base of the machine tool station, performing atleast one machining operation on the workpiece on the pallet by amachine tool in the machining tool station, indexing the platform,pallet and workpiece in unison, performing at least one machiningoperation on the indexed workpiece by a machine tool in such machinetool station, releasing the clamp from the pallet and transferring thepallet and workpiece out of such machine tool station..Iaddend..Iadd.47. A method of transferring and locating a palletcarrying a workpiece for performing a series of machining operations tothe workpiece comprising: providing a table with a base and a driveoperably connected with the table for indexing the table relative to thebase, at least one pallet for receiving and releasably affixing aworkpiece to the pallet and a locator ring having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced and generally radially extending teeth foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the pallet,a part loading station adjacent the table having a base and a locatorring thereon having a plurality of circumferentially spaced andgenerally radially extending teeth for complementary mating engagementwith the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet for accurately locatingthe pallet on the base of the loading station, and at least two machinetool stations adjacent the table, each machine tool station having aseparate base and a locator ring thereon for complementary matingengagement with the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet foraccurately axially, radially and circumferentially locating the palletwith respect to the machine tool station base, and a clamp forreleasably clamping the pallet to the base of each machine tool stationwhile the locator ring of the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring of the base of the machine tool station, and a machine toolfor performing machining operations on the workpiece, loading theworkpiece on the pallet at the part loading station, clamping theworkpiece to the pallet, indexing the pallet to a first machine toolstation, locating the pallet on the base of the machine tool station bymatingly engaging the teeth of the locator ring on the pallet with theteeth of the locator ring on the base of the machine tool station,clamping the pallet to the base while the locator ring on the pallet isin mating engagement with the locator ring on the base of the machinetool station performing at least one machining operation on theworkpiece on the pallet, releasing the pallet, and indexing the palletto a second machine tool station, locating the pallet on the base of thesecond machine tool station by matingly engaging the teeth of thelocator ring on the pallet with the teeth of the locator ring on thebase of the second machine tool station, clamping the pallet to the basewhile the locator ring on the pallet is in mating engagement with thelocator ring on the base of the second machine tool station, performingat least one machining operation on the workpiece on the pallet,releasing the pallet, and after all machining operations have beenperformed, indexing the pallet and workpiece to the load station,removing the workpiece from the pallet and thereafter loading anotherworkpiece onto the pallet, and indexing the table carrying the pallet tothe part loading station, lowering the table to transfer the pallet fromthe table onto the base of the part loading station with the locatorteeth of the locator ring on the pallet in mating engagement with thelocator teeth of the locator ring on the base of the part loadingstation to accurately locate the pallet with respect to the base of thepart loading station, loading a workpiece onto the pallet, accuratelyaxially and radially locating the workpiece on the pallet with respectto the locator ring on the pallet and the locator ring on the base ofthe part loading station in mating engagement therewith, releasablyclamping the workpiece to the pallet for maintaining the accuratelocation of the workpiece on the pallet during indexing of the palletand machining of the workpiece, and raising the table to lift the palletfrom the base of the part loading station onto the table for indexingthe pallet to the next station. .Iaddend..Iadd.48. The method of claim42 which also comprises: providing a catch on the underside of thepallet for engagement by a clamp, and a clamp operably associated withthe base of the part loading station for clamping the pallet, clampingthe pallet to the base of the part loading station with the locator ringof the pallet in mating engagement with the locator ring on the base ofthe part loading station, loading the workpiece onto the pallet,clamping the workpiece to the pallet, releasing the pallet from theclamp operably associated with the base of the part loading station andtransferring the pallet from the base of the part loading station ontothe table for indexing the pallet and workpiece to the next station..Iaddend..Iadd.49. The multiple station boring machine of claim 26wherein said workpiece locator of said part loading station alsocomprises an elongate reciprocable arm carried by said base of said partloading station and a generally triangular locator blade at one end ofsaid arm for extending said blade on said arm engaging the locator ofthe workpiece for accurately circumferentially locating the workpiecewith respect to said locator ring on said pallet and said locator ringon said base of said part loading station in mating engagementtherewith. .Iaddend..Iadd.50. The method of claim 42 which alsocomprises: providing a workpiece locator of the part loading stationhaving an elongate reciprocable arm carried by the base of the partloading station and a generally triangular locator blade at one end ofthe arm, extending the blade of the arm to engage the locator of theworkpiece for accurately circumferentially locating the workpiece withrespect to the locator ring on the pallet and the locator ring on thebase of the part loading station in mating engagement therewith,clamping the workpiece to the pallet, and retracting the blade of thearm from the workpiece. .Iaddend.